“If you thinking changing will make you significantly happier or significantly more money or open more job opportunities, then it is almost always a good idea to make a change," he says. "But if prime reason is to make more money in the short term, it could backfire.”

Joseph Terach, CEO of the career services firm Resume Deli

Timing can be critical in other ways as well. When do companies give out yearly bonuses, for example. Is a raise coming up? Leaving right before these anticipated yearly events may skew the calculations on whether taking a new job is worth it.

"If you leave and don't make significantly more money," he says, "you may find, once you make that move, that you took a larger financial loss than you anticipated."

Understanding the health insurance options at a new company compared to a current company is also important, Battaglia says.

"Ask a lot of questions," she says. "Go in and do what you can to understand what the plans are."

Vacations can also be an important part of the new job package. When Battaglia shifted jobs she lost a lot of vacation time — something that is important to her because the rest of her family is on the East Coast. Her new employers weren't willing to negotiate vacation time, so it was a big tradeoff, particularly because it also limited her time to work on her side coaching job.

There are also outside costs associated with moving to a new job, whether the job is across town or across the country.

Transportation costs

Battaglia's move from the suburbs of Scottsdale to the city of Phoenix impacted her transportation costs. Commuting, parking and public transportation can be expensive depending on where the job is located.

"Make sure that you are reimbursed should your job involve regular travel or travel prior to the official relocation back and forth, for example, if family is delayed due to school schedules or a spouse's commitments," he said.

He also says that if the job requires a lot of car travel to try to get a leased car from the company.

Hard and soft costs

Where a person works can also affect take-home pay, if there are extra taxes. Battaglia, for example, says some cities will charge wage taxes to people who work in city limits.

Simple things like having inexpensive restaurants near the job can also make a difference: "I don't like to pack lunch," Battaglia says, "so that can get pricy."

When Battaglia worked at Vanguard, the dress policy was strict. Her new employer doesn't require the dress-for-success level of clothing. Although the clothing required for her new job was less formal, and therefore less expensive, she still had to buy new clothes.

"People need to think what it will cost to take a different job," she says.

This can mean things like cellphones. Does the company offer any subsidy? Battaglia's old company offered about 18 percent. Her current company offers 27 percent.

Cohen encourages asking if a new company offers flex time, housing subsidies (if one is relocating) and general cost of living increases in the new location.

He also says to ask if they offer guaranteed severance pay. This is good insurance if people leave stable jobs only to have their new job eliminated: "The reality is that a severance package costs the company zero dollars if it is not exercised," he says.

Looking to quit

Terach with Resume Deli says people considering switching jobs should look for the new job before quitting.

"It is to your advantage to have a job while looking for a new one," he says. "If you quit and don't find a job right away, employers will think 'This guy can't get a job.'"

This also helps get a better salary with a new employer, he said.

In those negotiations, however, he says to not bring up all compensation questions right away.

"The strategy is to get an employer to be salivating over you before the conversation about salary and other elements of total compensation," he says. "It is just a negotiation tactic. Get them excited first."

Battaglia agrees.

"When you are desperate, you can't negotiate the same way," she says. "You are in the best situation to negotiate when you can walk away."

Popular Comments

Novell just returned to its old layoff tactics this past couple of weeks laying
off a fairly large number from Provo. This was kept pretty quiet from the news
papers somehow. I have friends who work there who told me about it. Many of the
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11:00 a.m. Feb. 17, 2014

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Utefan60

Salt Lake City, UT

It is very difficult to stay with a bad or dishonest boss. There are many of
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11:12 a.m. Feb. 18, 2014

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LovelyDeseret

Gilbert, AZ

I am glad I had a few bad bosses. Without them I wouldn't have left the
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Now a days it seems that the best way for upward mobility is to leave a
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I am a staff writer for the Deseret News. My current beat is financial responsibility. I also occasionally write on other topics such as faith.
I graduated from Arizona State University and from J. Reuben Clark Law School more ..